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''Mensch'', released in August 2002, is the 20th studio album by German rock/pop artist
Herbert Grönemeyer
Herbert Arthur Wiglev Clamor Grönemeyer (born 12 April 1956) is a German singer, musician, producer, composer and actor, popular in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Grönemeyer starred as war correspondent Lieutenant Werner in Wolfgang Pete ...
. ''Mensch'' ("Human") is Grönemeyer's 11th full-length album of original compositions. It is the most successful German-language album to date.
Background
The title track "Mensch" became Grönemeyer's first
number-one single in Germany. The mood of the album reflects the then recent death of his wife, Anna Henkel, and Wilhelm, one of his older brothers, both of cancer, within a week,
and is rich with poetic imagery. The songs range from rock to ballads. The richness of the imagery and language, as well as the use of creative
word play
Word play or wordplay (also: play-on-words) is a literary technique and a form of wit in which words used become the main subject of the work, primarily for the purpose of intended effect or amusement. Examples of word play include puns, phonet ...
, can make the lyrics difficult to understand and interpret by listeners who are not fluent in German. In ''Mensch'' Grönemeyer reflects on his own humanity as it relates to feeling loss.
The song "''Der Weg''" in particular focuses on memories of his wife and the love they shared,
while the song "''Unbewohnt''" is dealing with the loneliness and depression he felt after his wife's death.
The full-length album was released in three versions:
* a
copy-protected CD
* a 12" vinyl
LP album
The LP (from "long playing" or "long play") is an analog sound storage medium, a phonograph record format characterized by: a speed of rpm; a 12- or 10-inch (30- or 25-cm) diameter; use of the "microgroove" groove specification; and a ...
* a hybrid
Super Audio CD, containing standard compact disc stereo,
Super Audio CD high-resolution stereo, and
Super Audio CD high-resolution multi-channel audio content.
The compact disc and the Super Audio CD (CD layer and high-resolution SACD stereo sections) contain a
hidden track
In the field of recorded music, a hidden track (sometimes called a ghost track, secret track or unlisted track) is a song or a piece of audio that has been placed on a CD, audio cassette, LP record, or other recorded medium, in such a way as t ...
after about fifteen minutes of silence at the end of the last song. The album is entirely in
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
.
''Mensch'' was a huge success in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and sold nearly 4 million copies,
making it the best-selling German-language record of all time, also being certified with 21 x Gold in Germany.
Track listing
Charts and certifications
Chart positions
Certifications
Singles
See also
*
List of best-selling albums in Germany
Germany is the third largest music market in the world, and the largest in Europe. This is a list of the best-selling albums in Germany that have been certified by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI). Since January 1, 2003, BVMI certifies an a ...
References
External links
Menschon Discogs
rezensator.de
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mensch (Album)
2002 albums
German-language albums
EMI Records albums
Herbert Grönemeyer albums
Albums produced by Alex Silva